If you read my post last month, you know OG and I recently traveled to Kansas City for his 50th high school reunion. Since this was such a momentous event, I thought I'd share some of my observations with you.
First, the trip itself. I've traveled several times since we moved to California, but OG hadn't flown in nearly four years. He was dreading it, and I was dreading it with him. Travel is always easier for me when I don't have to worry about how someone else is doing. I also wasn't exactly at my best.
The morning we left, I had to get up at 3:30 a.m., so I didn't sleep at all. The night before, I had awakened at 3:05 and never gone back to sleep. The first night in the hotel, the air conditioner in the room came on every 20 minutes with the roar of a freight train, so--you guessed it--I didn't sleep at all again! By the following night, after the first party of the weekend, I had been awake for 70 hours straight. I was getting shaky and a little loopy. That night, I slept and returned to normal--or at least as normal as I ever get. The next couple of days were fine. I went to the art museum with my mother, spoke about indie publishing to a couple dozen of her friends, and met my sister's two new little dogs. However, the weekend wasn't about me.
OG had been anxious about going for weeks. Two days before we left, he said he wished he'd never agreed to attend. He hadn't seen or spoken to anyone in his class in more than thirty years and wasn't sure he would remember anyone or they would remember him. I think his main worry, though, was how to explain himself and his life. Men in particular tend to define themselves by their careers, and he felt his was a disappointment. My feeling is, it isn't necessary to spill your guts to everyone you encounter at an event like this, but somehow he seemed to think people would be able to tell just by looking at him.
Fortunately, a few months ago, his best friend from high school managed to track him down through my author FB page (of all things!) They've been emailing ever since, and we've gotten together with him and his wife twice--it turned out they only live a couple of hours away. They're wonderful people, and spending time with them made the whole weekend easier and much more fun for both of us.
From the first minutes of the first event, OG's fears turned out to be unfounded. I watched with great pleasure as he reconnected with former neighbors and his old football teammates. Everyone was happy to see him, and he obviously felt the same. People were genuinely curious about each other's lives, but without judgement, as far as I could tell. By age 68, they seemed to have gained the wisdom to simply accept and enjoy each other. I couldn't have asked for more.
Alison
www.alisonhenderson.com
Showing posts with label high school reunion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label high school reunion. Show all posts
Sunday, October 15, 2017
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Fall Into The Holiday Season by Margo Hoornstra
I’m taking liberties with the theme choices for this month. Correction, this goes beyond liberties. I made up my own.
It happens fast, doesn’t it? Summer ends, school starts, Halloween hits and – boom – before we know it we fall into the holiday season.
Parties, shopping, decorating, shopping, tree lighting ceremonies, shopping, family dinners, followed by shopping.
In our family, the transition from Thanksgiving to Christmas isn’t quite as smooth as it could be. In our family, which includes me, my husband, our four children, three in-law children and four grandchildren, we have six birthdays to celebrate before we can fully break out the holiday cheer.
I will admit I was the one who started this abundance of birthday-parties-in-the middle-of-the-Christmas-season flurry by giving birth to my second child, a girl, the Saturday after Thanksgiving. A few years later, in mid-December, we welcomed a boy and a girl.
In my defense, the twins weren’t due until sometime in late January, but came early. Still . . . It seems each of my two daughters inherited their mother’s poor planning of childbirth dates gene. In subsequent years, they followed my lead, having children, all boys, in December. One even made his appearance in the early hours of Christmas Eve.
My only granddaughter was born a couple of weeks before my birthday in the spring. The way birthdays are supposed to happen in order to better space out the giving and/or receiving of gifts.
But I digress.
For someone like me who is not fond of shopping anyway, having so many gifts to buy at one time can present (pun intended because I’m too tired to find another word) a challenge. Don’t get me wrong, I love giving my kids and grandkids gifts, I’m just not that much into fighting the holiday crowds to obtain said gifts to give. Others around the malls and such are in the Ho-Ho-Ho Santa mode when I’m looking for some non-holiday themed items. I’ll admit it, sometimes I simply resort to taking the easy way out.
Gift cards are another solution to my aversion to shopping, as is the simple inclusion of cash in a card. Anyone who has kids—daughters in particular—knows that unless you’re terribly gifted (oops, there’s another pun) at picking out things they like, will wear or even use, gift cards are a great addition to our shopping portfolios. (While I know a couple of mothers who have the talent to choose acceptable gifts, I’m not one of them.)
One stipulation we sometimes make in the grandkids getting gift cards situation is that Gram and Pa (that’s us) will be the ones to take them shopping. AFTER the holiday frenzy. Like in the middle of January. When the stores are replete with displays for Valentine’s Day, which is just around the corner. Yikes! Here we go again. Before you know it, we’ll be back into Summer.
Until then, speaking of shopping and gifts and holidays and such – starting tomorrow and running into Thursday, do I have a sale for you. Actually, fellow Rose of Prose Jannine Gallant and I have a couple of sales for you. A couple of pre-Black Friday sales.
Two, three book anthologies, for the reduced price of 99 cents each.
Road To Serendipity by her and Saturday In Serendipity by me, again, just 99 cents each from November 24 - 27.
A high school reunion leads six former classmates to unexpected futures. Join Kate and Tyler; Chantal and Flynn; Chloe and Adam; Amanda and Barry; Blane and Matt; and Bethany and Jake as they become re-acquainted with old friends and rekindle elusive loves.
Beat the rush, get your deal ahead of time. Put the turkey in to roast and put your feet up to read. Before you put your head down to forge into the Black Friday brouhaha.
Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone! However you spend it, enjoy this holiday and the others to come.Join me next month on the 10th, 11th and 12th for a special short story, my gift to you, Santa's Second Chance.
For more about me and my stories, please visit my website
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Four Ways To Fall by Margo Hoornstra
Saturday In Serendipity contains three
stories of love rediscovered. A twenty year high school reunion changes the
lives of former classmates and leads to unexpected futures.
Using our topics for this month, I’d like to
illustrate how each of my heroes fared.
Fall From Grace: Where Barry Carlson, hero of
Three Strikes Thursday, finds himself after a huge misunderstanding.
Hot on Amanda’s heels, Barry followed her out of
the ballroom. “Can you at least tell me what the hell is going on?”
She turned so abruptly, he damned near bowled her
over. When he shot out a bracing arm so she wouldn’t fall, she dodged away from
him as if he’d come at her with a butcher knife.
“Look, if you’re not feeling up to staying here.
Let’s go back to my place so we can be alone.” And
I can find out what the hell is the matter.
“Were extra points given for maintaining the
charade until the reunion was over?”
“Charade?”
“Sorry to ruin your winnings, but I refuse to be
fooled any longer. Or made a fool of, to be more precise. I truly believed
you’d changed.”
She lowered her eyes, and his gut clenched when a
tear fell onto the carpet. “What are you talking about?”
“You had me convinced that things between us could
be different.”
“They are different.”
“Really? I just had a very interesting, and
revealing, conversation with your good friend Aaron Goodwin.”
Unsure how to process the remark, he glanced over
her head to find that particular classmate
leaned against a far wall, self-satisfied smirk on his face as he watched them through narrowed eyes.
A bizarre collection of confusion and fear,
apprehension and dread flowed through him like a wild fire. “A conversation about what? Where?”
“Back at Keenan’s when you and your group of old
buds came up with that—that—bet.”
As his memory completed a fast rewind of the night
in question, the warmth in his heart turned to ice. “I’m not sure what you’re
talking about.” He hedged for time as his mind reeled with ways to get out of
the deep, dark pit he was about to fall into.
Fall Overboard: How Matt Durand, hero of Two On
Tuesday responds when that nearly happens.
One of the officers, the one she hadn’t gone to
school with, walked over and knelt down. “I can call an ambulance if you’d like to seek
medical attention, ma’am. To take you to Anderson Memorial Hospital in town.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think I need to.”
Matt ignored her. “I’ll take her in.”
“That’s not necessary.” She indicated the
area on her forehead that was beginning to throb again. “It’s just a bump.”
“One hell of a bump.”
“You might want to get it checked out.” The officer
stood.
“I don’t—”
“She will.” Matt lifted his head as the officer
walked away.
Before she could lodge another protest, an oddly
quiet and subdued Aaron came up to stand over her.
“You’re doing okay, aren’t you, Babe?”
Suddenly she no longer cared to deny how she really
felt. “I’ve been better.”
“It was my fault. I didn’t know you stood
up.” He shaded his eyes to look over at his boat. “I figured you’d have the
sense to stay put.”
With a snort, Matt started to rise. She touched his
arm. Slanting her a glance, mouth once again grim, he stayed at her side. If
Aaron’s intention was to lay the blame for getting hurt on
her, she wasn’t about to let him. Plus, she could take care of herself, thank
you very much.
“It was a stupid thing to do, Aaron.” Her voice
rose as did her indignation. “Asinine.” Despite her aching forehead and a
shoulder that was beginning to smart, she tried to stand. Matt stood along with
her. No, actually, he pulled her to her feet and kept his arm around her waist
as she faced Aaron.
“I said it was my fault.” A rueful gaze ricocheted
her way. “And I’m kidding about
the staying put part. Mike’s partner said you
should be checked out. I’d take you, but.” His gaze strayed over to his boat.
“They said I can’t leave the doll here, plus I don’t have a car handy.”
She gritted her teeth. At the moment, the desire to
get away from her so-called date overruled a reluctance to seek medical
attention. “I think I will take Matt up on his offer to drive me to
Anderson.”
Not one to show weakness, she formulated a plan.
Once they were away from the dock, she’d convince him to bypass the
hospital visit and give her a ride back to her hotel. In her room, she could
just lie down with a cold washcloth on her head.
Aaron stepped closer. “She said she was fine while
we were still on the boat, and I believed her.”
Brow furrowed, Matt shot him a look as his arm came
around Blane’s shoulders. “That
was your second mistake today.”
“Blane. Babe. I’ll call you.”
Aaron’s words followed them down the dock as Matt
guided her to his car.
Fall Into Wrong Hands: What Jake Holbrook, hero in
One Fateful Friday prevents when he discovers an abandoned child.
“We’ll handle this in the usual way, Mr. Holbrook,
then send you a report.” The security officer again reached for the child.
Jake stood up. “I’m sure you will.”
“Good-bye, little one.” Bethany remained where she
was as the door closed. Jake offered her a hand to get to her feet. For some
reason, anger bubbled to the surface she allowed to spew out at him. “Why did
you do that?”
Shock took over the concern on his features. “Do
what?”
“Give her to your people like that?”
“Because that’s how it’s done.” Disbelief colored
words which came out low and direct.
“Why?”
As if by mutual agreement, they dropped hands.
“What’s your solution? Take her home with you?”
The image of the one-bath, one-bed yet to be
settled apartment reared up in her mind.
“No. But we could take her, I don’t know, up and
down the halls. Find out who she belongs to.”
There was no mistaking the impatience that flashed
in his eyes, but he deliberately reached down to take a gentle hold of her
wrists. “And then what?”
"Then we’d—I don’t know.”
“Turn her over to the first stranger who claims to
have brought her here?”
“Saying it that way makes my idea sound stupid.”
“Maybe because that’s what it is.”
“Don’t call me stupid, Jake.”
“I’m not. I’m pointing out the shortcomings of your
way of thinking on this issue.” The soothing quality in his voice matched the
light strokes of his thumbs across her palms. “That’s one way child molesters
find their victims.”
He didn’t stop her when she pulled away from him.
“That’s not what I want.”
“Fortunately, or unfortunately, with the spate of
No Fault Abandonment laws being enacted, children are frequently dropped off at
hospitals now.”
“That can’t be.” Bethany couldn’t hide her horror. Pain at the
possibility that precious child had been abandoned sideswiped her heart. “Do
you think that’s what happened?”
“I’ve seen it enough.” A mixture of anger and
sadness crossed his face. “I, for one, have yet to get used to the practice.”
“Here I thought those kinds of things only happened
in the third world countries I used to visit.” Blowing out a breath, she wiped
her palms on the sides of the white lab coat she wore. “I guess I should be
getting back to work now.”
“Me too.” He
followed her to the door. “Baxter will
make sure the little girl is well taken care of.”
She grabbed his arm. “Define well taken care of.”
His eyes softened at her anxious expression.
“She’ll be picked up and put in foster care.”
“That hardly seems fair.”
“I’m sorry, Bethy, but those are the rules.”
“I’ve always hated rules.”
“Rules are necessary. This type of thing happens a
lot."
“It shouldn’t.”
“It does. A
couple of weeks ago a Jane Doe was brought in, deceased from a drug overdose. I
can’t tell you how many times the ER docs have stitched up a kid after a fight
of some kind.”
“A sign of the times I suppose. Even in sleepy
little Serendipity.” Picking up a stray paper cup to throw in the trash, she dispelled
the few tears which had made it as far as her cheeks with two back hand swipes.
One for each side.
Reaching up, his fingers brushed at what she
missed. “I’m sorry if I upset you.”
Eyes closing on a combination of anger and sorrow,
she swallowed twice. “Why do men always feel it’s their fault when a woman
becomes a little emotional?”
Opening the door for her, he remained silent after
they walked out into the hallway. Though the voice was low, almost a whisper, his
eventual answer rang out to her loud and clear.
“Wishful thinking?”
That’s all I have for now, which leaves Fall Into
Winter without a hero or an excerpt. Sorry. Not doing it. Because that one will
be here, for real, soon enough.
My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd.
For more about my stories and me, please visit my website
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
When Things Fall Into Place, You Can't Help But Fall In Love - Again by Margo Hoornstra
Did you ever throw a concept out there and have it reworked and expanded on by someone else then given back to you more fully formed and developed? That happened to me recently with CP Jannine. As the back and forth volley of ideas and possible situations continued, two books, containing a total of six stories, were resurrected and given new life.
A few years ago, we each wrote three novellas based on the premise of what would happen if former classmates came together for their twentieth high school reunion. Unfortunately, they didn't go far. Why not reclaim our rights, rework then release them ourselves? That was the original concept. To be honest, I'm not sure which one of us thought of it first. The important thing is, based on that initial conversation, everything started to fall into place.
I know, Jannine told you about this a few days ago, but stay with me.
The location for our Serendipity books became the fictional town of Serendipity, Vermont located on the shores of beautiful Lake Champlain.
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In Saturday In Serendipity by me, a twenty year high school reunion changes the lives and former classmates and leads to unexpected futures. In Road To Serendipity by Jannine, a question is answered. Will a twenty year high school reunion inspire old classmates to risk it all for love?
The most fun, for me, was writing a phone conversation between her character, Kate Abbott and mine Blane Weston. Check out the same dialogue with two different points of view.
Kate's plan, to arrive in Serendipity the Friday night of the reunion happens to fall by the wayside.
With a sigh she flipped open her phone and pushed the speed dial button for Blane. Her friend answered on the third ring.
"Hi, Blane, it's Kate. How are you?"
"Well, hello, stranger! I'm hanging in there thinking about what to wear on the cruise tonight." Her voice lowered. "After I get some issues resolved with one of my construction sites."
That was Blane, never giving herself a break. "You're working?"
"Remotely through my computer. It shouldn't take long. Are you in Serendipity? Have you checked in yet?"
She cleared her throat. "That why I'm calling. I'm not going to make it tonight. I'm so sorry, but we're still in Ohio, and there's just no way to get to Serendipity in time."
Blane was quiet for a moment. "Don't worry about it. I've had a few complications, but I'm sure everything will work out fine."
Her grip on the phone tightened. "What complications?"
"Long story." She let out a sigh before her voice regained some its usual spirit. "Wait a minute, did you say we? Who's with you?"
Kate took a deep breath. "Do you remember Tyler North?"
Her friend's squeal nearly deafened her. "Are you kidding me?"
"We ran into each other on the road, literally, and we've been traveling together."
"What!"
Kate held the phone away from her ear. "Like you said, long story. Anyway, we'll be there for the dance tomorrow night."
"Oh no, you don't get to hang up now. I want details, girl! Old love 'em and leave 'em North. Bop 'em and drop 'em, do 'em and shoo 'em, this is the guy we're talking about, right?"
Her cheeks heated. "He's changed."
"I hope so. I can't picture you with Tyler North."
Kate glanced at Tyler who kept his gaze fixed on the road. She wondered what he was thinking. "Uh, we'll talk at the dance."
"Can't wait. Have you done the deed yet?"
"Blane!"
"Fine, you can tell me about it when you get to Serendipity."
"I really am sorry I can't be there for you this evening."
"Don't worry about it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed everything will work out."
"I'll cross mine too. So, you and Aaron?" She sighed as she pictured her friend's old flame. "Did he keep his looks?"
"You bet. Unlike some of us, he's improved with age."
Kate let out a spurt of laughter. "Speak for yourself about the age thing." She leaned back in her seat and gazed out at the scenery rushing by. "Aaron always had a way of making a girl feel special. Is he still and smooth and charming as ever?"
"He is that." There was a brief pause before she spoke again. "I'd better get to work. I'll see you tomorrow night. Bye, Kate."
"Bye, Blane." She clicked her phone shut and smiled. "It looks like I could have saved myself a cross country trip."
He glanced sideways at her then gave his attention to the semi he was passing. "Why do you say that?"
"Because Blane told me she has everything under control." Her brows knit. "At least I hope she does. Anyway, she took the news of our delay well."
Blane tries hard, after hearing the news, not to fall to pieces.
Blane struggled through the door to her standard, nondescript hotel room and dropped her cumbersome bags on the floor. She was about to set her purse on the cherry wood dresser when her cell chimed. Digging it out, she answered on the third ring.
"Hi, Blane, it's Kate. How are you?"
A friend at last. "Well, hello, stranger!" She walked over to flop down on the bed. "I'm hanging in there, thinking about what to wear on the cruise tonight." Her voice lowered. "That is after I get some issues resolved with one of my construction sites."
"You're working?"
"Remotely through my computer. It shouldn't take long. Are you in Serendipity? Have you checked in yet?"
Momentary silence was followed by some throat clearing. "That's why I'm calling. I'm not going to make it tonight. I'm so sorry, but we're still in Ohio, and there's just no way to get to Serendipity in time."
Blane closed her eyes as an uncomfortable emptiness hit the pit of her stomach. Alone again. "Don't worry about it. I've had a few complications, but I'm sure everything will work out fine."
"What complications?" Kate's voice was edged with worry.
"Long story." Letting out a sigh, she shook her head and sat up. "Wait a minute, did you say we? Who's with you?"
Her friend inhaled before answering. "Do you remember Tyler North?"
Standing, Blane let out a squeal. "Are you kidding me?"
"We ran into each other on the road, literally, and we've been traveling together."
Mouth open, Blane sat back down and tightened her hold on the phone. "What!"
"Like you said, long story. Anyway, we'll be there for the dance tomorrow night."
"Oh no, you don't get to hang up now. I want details, girl!" The grin stretching her cheeks felt fabulous. "Old love 'em and leave 'em North. Bop 'em and drop 'em, do 'em and shoo 'em, this is the guy we're talking about right?"
Kate let out another breath. "He's changed."
"I hope so." She moved the phone to her other ear. "I can't picture you with Tyler North."
"Uh, we'll talk at the dance."
"Can't wait." The grin felt so good, she held on to it. "Have you done the deed yet?"
"Blane!"
"Fine, you can tell me about it when you get to Serendipity."
"I really am sorry I can't be there for you this evening."
"Don't worry about it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed everything will work out."
"I'll cross mine too. So, you and Aaron?" Kate's sigh brought back old memories. "Did he keep his looks?"
"You bet. Unlike some of us, he's improved with age."
Kate let out a spurt of laughter. "Speak for yourself about the age thing." There was a space of silence before she went on. "Aaron always had a way of making a girl feel special. Is he still as smooth and charming as ever?"
"He is that." She took a moment to take a breath. "I'd better get to work. I'll see you tomorrow night, Kate."
"Bye, Blane."
Pushing the off button, Blane tossed her phone on the bed. "Long stories. Turns out that's what this weekend is going to be all about."
Once Jannine and I got going, everything just started to fall into place. We didn't have anything really fall by the wayside. And, both of us were able to fall in love with some old stories made new.
My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. If you're so inclined, please visit my WEBSITE
A few years ago, we each wrote three novellas based on the premise of what would happen if former classmates came together for their twentieth high school reunion. Unfortunately, they didn't go far. Why not reclaim our rights, rework then release them ourselves? That was the original concept. To be honest, I'm not sure which one of us thought of it first. The important thing is, based on that initial conversation, everything started to fall into place.
I know, Jannine told you about this a few days ago, but stay with me.
The location for our Serendipity books became the fictional town of Serendipity, Vermont located on the shores of beautiful Lake Champlain.
In Saturday In Serendipity by me, a twenty year high school reunion changes the lives and former classmates and leads to unexpected futures. In Road To Serendipity by Jannine, a question is answered. Will a twenty year high school reunion inspire old classmates to risk it all for love?
The most fun, for me, was writing a phone conversation between her character, Kate Abbott and mine Blane Weston. Check out the same dialogue with two different points of view.
Kate's plan, to arrive in Serendipity the Friday night of the reunion happens to fall by the wayside.
With a sigh she flipped open her phone and pushed the speed dial button for Blane. Her friend answered on the third ring.
"Hi, Blane, it's Kate. How are you?"
"Well, hello, stranger! I'm hanging in there thinking about what to wear on the cruise tonight." Her voice lowered. "After I get some issues resolved with one of my construction sites."
That was Blane, never giving herself a break. "You're working?"
"Remotely through my computer. It shouldn't take long. Are you in Serendipity? Have you checked in yet?"
She cleared her throat. "That why I'm calling. I'm not going to make it tonight. I'm so sorry, but we're still in Ohio, and there's just no way to get to Serendipity in time."
Blane was quiet for a moment. "Don't worry about it. I've had a few complications, but I'm sure everything will work out fine."
Her grip on the phone tightened. "What complications?"
"Long story." She let out a sigh before her voice regained some its usual spirit. "Wait a minute, did you say we? Who's with you?"
Kate took a deep breath. "Do you remember Tyler North?"
Her friend's squeal nearly deafened her. "Are you kidding me?"
"We ran into each other on the road, literally, and we've been traveling together."
"What!"
Kate held the phone away from her ear. "Like you said, long story. Anyway, we'll be there for the dance tomorrow night."
"Oh no, you don't get to hang up now. I want details, girl! Old love 'em and leave 'em North. Bop 'em and drop 'em, do 'em and shoo 'em, this is the guy we're talking about, right?"
Her cheeks heated. "He's changed."
"I hope so. I can't picture you with Tyler North."
Kate glanced at Tyler who kept his gaze fixed on the road. She wondered what he was thinking. "Uh, we'll talk at the dance."
"Can't wait. Have you done the deed yet?"
"Blane!"
"Fine, you can tell me about it when you get to Serendipity."
"I really am sorry I can't be there for you this evening."
"Don't worry about it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed everything will work out."
"I'll cross mine too. So, you and Aaron?" She sighed as she pictured her friend's old flame. "Did he keep his looks?"
"You bet. Unlike some of us, he's improved with age."
Kate let out a spurt of laughter. "Speak for yourself about the age thing." She leaned back in her seat and gazed out at the scenery rushing by. "Aaron always had a way of making a girl feel special. Is he still and smooth and charming as ever?"
"He is that." There was a brief pause before she spoke again. "I'd better get to work. I'll see you tomorrow night. Bye, Kate."
"Bye, Blane." She clicked her phone shut and smiled. "It looks like I could have saved myself a cross country trip."
He glanced sideways at her then gave his attention to the semi he was passing. "Why do you say that?"
"Because Blane told me she has everything under control." Her brows knit. "At least I hope she does. Anyway, she took the news of our delay well."
Blane tries hard, after hearing the news, not to fall to pieces.
Blane struggled through the door to her standard, nondescript hotel room and dropped her cumbersome bags on the floor. She was about to set her purse on the cherry wood dresser when her cell chimed. Digging it out, she answered on the third ring.
"Hi, Blane, it's Kate. How are you?"
A friend at last. "Well, hello, stranger!" She walked over to flop down on the bed. "I'm hanging in there, thinking about what to wear on the cruise tonight." Her voice lowered. "That is after I get some issues resolved with one of my construction sites."
"You're working?"
"Remotely through my computer. It shouldn't take long. Are you in Serendipity? Have you checked in yet?"
Momentary silence was followed by some throat clearing. "That's why I'm calling. I'm not going to make it tonight. I'm so sorry, but we're still in Ohio, and there's just no way to get to Serendipity in time."
Blane closed her eyes as an uncomfortable emptiness hit the pit of her stomach. Alone again. "Don't worry about it. I've had a few complications, but I'm sure everything will work out fine."
"What complications?" Kate's voice was edged with worry.
"Long story." Letting out a sigh, she shook her head and sat up. "Wait a minute, did you say we? Who's with you?"
Her friend inhaled before answering. "Do you remember Tyler North?"
Standing, Blane let out a squeal. "Are you kidding me?"
"We ran into each other on the road, literally, and we've been traveling together."
Mouth open, Blane sat back down and tightened her hold on the phone. "What!"
"Like you said, long story. Anyway, we'll be there for the dance tomorrow night."
"Oh no, you don't get to hang up now. I want details, girl!" The grin stretching her cheeks felt fabulous. "Old love 'em and leave 'em North. Bop 'em and drop 'em, do 'em and shoo 'em, this is the guy we're talking about right?"
Kate let out another breath. "He's changed."
"I hope so." She moved the phone to her other ear. "I can't picture you with Tyler North."
"Uh, we'll talk at the dance."
"Can't wait." The grin felt so good, she held on to it. "Have you done the deed yet?"
"Blane!"
"Fine, you can tell me about it when you get to Serendipity."
"I really am sorry I can't be there for you this evening."
"Don't worry about it. I'm keeping my fingers crossed everything will work out."
"I'll cross mine too. So, you and Aaron?" Kate's sigh brought back old memories. "Did he keep his looks?"
"You bet. Unlike some of us, he's improved with age."
Kate let out a spurt of laughter. "Speak for yourself about the age thing." There was a space of silence before she went on. "Aaron always had a way of making a girl feel special. Is he still as smooth and charming as ever?"
"He is that." She took a moment to take a breath. "I'd better get to work. I'll see you tomorrow night, Kate."
"Bye, Blane."
Pushing the off button, Blane tossed her phone on the bed. "Long stories. Turns out that's what this weekend is going to be all about."
Once Jannine and I got going, everything just started to fall into place. We didn't have anything really fall by the wayside. And, both of us were able to fall in love with some old stories made new.
My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. If you're so inclined, please visit my WEBSITE
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Lost In America, Now How Can That Possibly Be? by Margo Hoornstra
Don't know a thing about the movie. Heard about it. Never saw it. That being said, the first thought that comes to mind is, well, 'Lost In America, now how can that possibly be?' Go anywhere in our great country. From northern Maine to southern California, northern Alaska to the Florida Keys. We're all basically the same.
Especially if you're a student in high school. We've all been there and, I'd venture to say, have all had similar experiences. Those years are pretty universal, ones we consider the greatest times of our life and the very worst. Making impulsive, peer driven, possibly incorrect choices. Trying to have a good time and be yourself and feeling that the self you are is totally inadequate and wishing you were more like someone else. Being in the enviable position of having a shiny bright future in front of you, then as the years go by, some of those sterling promises may have become tarnished over time. The life we actually lived may not have unfolded exactly as we planned. I thought about that a lot a few years ago as I worked on three novellas originally published for the Class of 85 series.
When those books didn't seem to go anywhere, in collusion with Jannine I got my rights back, reworked them somewhat, and ultimately turned them into my latest release, Saturday In Serendipity. "Three stories of love rediscovered."
Saturday In Serendipity revolves around a twenty year high school reunion. Instead of being Lost in America, these characters are eventually found, in the fictional town of Serendipity, Vermont. A beautiful place on the shores of Lake Champlain.
Here's a sample of what's in store.
Especially if you're a student in high school. We've all been there and, I'd venture to say, have all had similar experiences. Those years are pretty universal, ones we consider the greatest times of our life and the very worst. Making impulsive, peer driven, possibly incorrect choices. Trying to have a good time and be yourself and feeling that the self you are is totally inadequate and wishing you were more like someone else. Being in the enviable position of having a shiny bright future in front of you, then as the years go by, some of those sterling promises may have become tarnished over time. The life we actually lived may not have unfolded exactly as we planned. I thought about that a lot a few years ago as I worked on three novellas originally published for the Class of 85 series.
When those books didn't seem to go anywhere, in collusion with Jannine I got my rights back, reworked them somewhat, and ultimately turned them into my latest release, Saturday In Serendipity. "Three stories of love rediscovered."
Saturday In Serendipity revolves around a twenty year high school reunion. Instead of being Lost in America, these characters are eventually found, in the fictional town of Serendipity, Vermont. A beautiful place on the shores of Lake Champlain.
Here's a sample of what's in store.
A twenty year high
school reunion changes the lives of former classmates and leads them to unexpected
futures. Three couples set out to revisit their pasts only to find their happily ever afters.
Three Strikes Thursday Barry Carlson, a pro
baseball success, could have any woman he wanted. Except one. Twenty years before,
Barry won Amanda Marsh’s love, only to crush her heart. He’s returned to
Serendipity, determined to win her back. Recently divorced, Amanda is happy—until
Barry slides back into her life. Can they put aside old wounds and new
misunderstandings to find a forever love?
Two On Tuesday Blane Weston’s construction company
needs the venture capital Matt Durand has. With his reputation for hostile
takeovers, she wants no part of him. Mixing business with pleasure, she’s off
to Serendipity to hook up with a former
flame. Not used to being denied, Matt follows. How can Blane enjoy a journey to
her past when Matt is determined to dictate her future?
One Fateful Friday His high school reunion
in Serendipity over, hospital CEO Jake Holbrook regrets his single state. When
a special woman from his past tumbles back into his life—and his bed—he’s
determined to keep her there. Family practitioner Bethany Thomas avoids an
entanglement with her new boss, but unknowingly betrays him. As the holidays
approach, can they overcome a lack of trust to find their Christmas miracle?
Jannine and I had great fun redoing these books, crossing characters and such, especially when we wrote dialogue between her heroine and mine with different Points of View.
Both books, my Saturday In Serendipity and Jannine's Road To Serendipity are available now. Check them out, you won't be disappointed.
My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. For more about me and my stories, please visit my WEBSITE
Friday, July 11, 2014
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest: I Remember That Book by Margo Hoornstra
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I read the book while I was in high school. It was required for some class, I don't remember which one.
Though I do remember being in high school. Good thing. A few years ago, I wrote three books for a series about couples who attend a twenty fifth high school reunion. While doing a blog tour to promote those books, I was asked about the research I did for the series.
Here's part of my answer.
The high school years are, by and large, a universal experience. One we alternately consider the greatest time of our life and the very worst. Making impulsive, peer driven and possibly incorrect choices. Trying to have a good time and be yourself and feeling that the self you are is totally inadequate. Always wishing you looked different or were more like someone else. Wanting so badly to have people accept you, and hurting when they don't seem to. Being in the enviable position of having a shiny bright future in front of you. Then, twenty years later, some of those same sterling promises may have become tarnished over time. The life we actually lived, while fulfilling, didn't unfold exactly as we wanted. Yet because we were able to make adjustments to what was dished out to us, we've come away with a certain wisdom gained from having navigated through them. Oh yeah, I knew all about that. Suffice it to say, much of my research took place in my head and in my own life.
So how about you? Were your years in high school the best of times or the worst of times?
My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. For more about me and my stories, please visit my WEBSITE
One final note. The day this comes out, I will be camping somewhere in the woods of northern Michigan. Even on a good day, internet service will be spotty. That's my excuse if I fail to respond to comments on time.
Happy Summer, Everyone!
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